Liberty Hill, TX

Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor's announced earlier in the month that they have awarded the highest bond rating available to Williamson County. The AAA rating is a high rating and means an entity has an "extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments," according to Standard and Poor's.

These credit rating agencies use letter designations to determine credit-worthiness. Following financial practices that any fiscally responsible household can utilize is how the county of Williamson was able to receive the rating, and the beneifts of it will now help residents of Williamson County.

Williamson County Auditor David Flores said, “You follow the ABC’s of spending, whether you are a family household or a government. A is always live within your means. B is borrow money only for capital items, being something that has permanent value like a home. C is credit cards shouldn’t be used to finance regular operations exceeding 30 days. These are the things I have taught my own children about finances, too."


The AAA rating is based on pass-through toll revenue and limited tax bonds, and series 2011 limited-tax refunding bonds. The good news for Williamson County residents is that this AAA rating will allow the county to refinance its debt for a lower interest rate. Williamson County Auditor David Flores said in a statement, "Our goal was to secure an interest rate of less than 4 percent, and we met that goal.” The county will save $2,670,000, more than their original goal of $2 million.

If you would like to know more about the ratings, visit the county’s website at www.wilco.org and you will find the information under the County Finances section.


Williamson County is a great place to call home. Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

For the second consecutive month, contracts to buy homes across the nation fell, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index of sales agreements fell 1.2 percent in August to a reading of 88.6. A reading of 100 is typically what is seen during a healthy housing market. The last time the market saw numbers near 100 was in April of 2010, when the homebuyers tax credit was coming to an end.

The number of contracts signed on homes is an indicator used to determine where the housing market will be in the months to come. There is usually a one-to-two month period of time between when a home contract is signed and the home is closed on.

Many Realtors have also been experiencing canceled contracts in the past few months. Buyers are canceling contracts after home appraisals are coming in showing that homes are worth less than what buyers bid on the home.

The sale of previously occupied homes is higher than last year. However, the sale of new homes fell for the fourth consecutive month.

Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

September 18th is the day that ground will be broken for the new Liberty Hill High School, and construction is set to begin the following day. Construction is expected to be completed by June of 2013. Last fall voters approved the $ 85.6 million bond package that would allow for the much-needed new high school. The Liberty Hill School District has grown by 20 percent since 2006 and is expected to grow another 35 percent by 2025. The rapid growth has left many schools in the district at or near capacity.

The estimated cost of the project is set at $60,023,406. The new school will be able to accommodate up to 1600 students. According to the school district’s website, the new building will have nine science labs, ten computer labs, a competition gym, two smaller practice gyms, 48 classrooms, career and technology classrooms, a band hall, a choir room and an auditorium.

Outside, the premises will house a new state-of-the-art football stadium that can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators, a new track featuring eight lanes, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, weight rooms and a concession stand.

Beyond the new high school other updates will be made throughout the district. Bill Burden Elementary is undergoing a parking lot expansion, and Liberty Hill Elementary is undergoing kitchen/cafeteria renovations.

Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

The heat is here and before we know it, it will be officially summer. Now that the weather is warm, many turn to local pools to keep cool. Pool safety is important this time of year and Williamson County officials are warning of the dangers that pools can bring and things to do to protect your children from drowning.

Already this year since the end of May, there have been 34 children across Texas that have passed away due to drowning, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Williamson County is fortunate enough to have not had any drownings during this time.

If you live in Williamson County and have a pool, here are some tips on keeping the kiddos safe this swimming season.

• Have a fence around the pool, and be sure that there is a gate with a latch that a small child cannot reach. It is also important that the gate be able to close on its own once it has been opened.
• If the pool is not in use, remove the ladder
• Invest in a pool alarm
• Teach your child about pool safety
• Always watch your child while they swim or are around water
• Become CPR certified

For more information on how to be safe around water, visit the American Red Cross Home Pool Essentials website at www.homepoolessentials.com.

Looking for a new home with a pool this summer? Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

A new report released from the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association showed that there were only 1.89 percent of residential mortgages in foreclosure during the first quarter of 2011 in the state of Texas. Throughout the state, the economy is gaining strength. The state of Texas was ranked as coming in 6th lowest in the country when it came to foreclosures. The national average of foreclosures is 4.52 percent.

The number of loan delinquencies dropped to 7.91percent of mortgages during the first quarter of 2011. This is the lowest number we have seen in almost two years. Not only did the number of loan delinquencies decrease, but so did the 90 days or more delinquent number which fell below 3 percent to 2.80 percent. This is another number we have not seen in almost 2 years.

President of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association said, "These numbers continue to provide evidence that Texas has the best lending landscape in the entire country." And "The continual and sizable reduction in the foreclosure rate is a material sign that the worst is behind us in Texas."

Foreclosures are dropping in Texas and the Austin housing market is picking up. Now is the time to buy. Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.